France to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after British demands

French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.

This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to support the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.

French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.

French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.

"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."

Currently, a French maritime police representative states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.

Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the boats.

The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office.

That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.

Now French officials will again be permitted to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.

Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.

The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.

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